Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Gates on immigration

“It makes no sense to tell well-trained, highly skilled individuals, many of whom are educated at our top colleges and universities, that the United States does not welcome or value them. America will find it infinitely more difficult to maintain its technological leadership if it shuts out the very people who are most able to help us compete.”

- Bill Gates

I am shocked that Bill Gates and I actually agree on something.

2 comments:

Mark said...

My solution to immigration: End the welfare state we now live in, including all federal entitlement programs. End the income tax as well.

Put a tax on consumption to pay for the military.

Then if people from other lands want to come here, compete for jobs and resources, and pay their own way -- just like the original american immigrants did, then c'mon in and give it your best shot.

The problem now is way too many people come here for the welfare state benefits, which has the effect of making us all weaker and poorer.

So, either close the doors, or change the motivations. I prefer the latter.

Orthoclase said...

I also prefer the latter.

Ending the welfare state is probably more of a long term thing.

For the short term, we need to give skilled & motivated workers priority in legal immigration.